Dec 1, 2015

Kitchen renovation: Modern West Coast kitchen

Kitchen problem: Before

A boxed-in layout.

Kitchen layout: Solution

Take drastic measure to create an open-concept main-level floor plan. Budget breakdown Materials = $33,310 -Millwork (cabinetry) $25,000* · Countertops $6,000 -Backsplash tiles $545 -Floor tiles $1,130 -Cabinetry hardware $635 Electrical/plumbing = $10,000 Appliances = $26,755 -Refrigerator $12,300 · range $9,000 -Range hood $2,150 -Microwave $420 -Microwave trim kit $330 · Sink $1,870 -Faucet $685 Total cost = $70,065 (excludes design; *includes labour)

Kitchen renovation: After

The hefty walnut kitchen island with room for three and a matching pantry ground the white cabinets and quartz countertops. “I wanted quartz for ease of care,” says homeowner Sally Parrott, “but I was surprised to learn it wasn’t that much cheaper than marble.” Some savings were found in the porcelain floor tile that looks like cement.

The planning process

It’s one thing to gut an entire home, but it’s another to move the kitchen to the opposite side of the house, knock down a structural wall and close up a window. Yet that’s just what Jamie Deck, designer and director of Shift Interiors, advised. The couple was torn over the increased costs, but in the end couldn’t argue with spatial logic. “It allowed us to open up the whole layout,” says Jamie.

The design decisions

The first big choice came in the minimalistic low-sheen white cabinetry. Sally wanted a style without fussy profile edges. But Erik, whose taste runs more traditional, was concerned the kitchen would read too stark. Enter the warm-toned richly grained walnut island (topped with quartz), pantry and floating shelf. “I wanted high-quality materials that would stand a lot of wear and tear, knowing we would spend a lot of time here,” explains Sally.